Cigarettes were stolen by thieves who ram-raided a Finchampstead shop during the early hours of Wednesday morning last week.

The raid happened at around 1.45am when the thieves used a car to smash the front window of the Co-op in California Crossroads and forced open a metal shutter before fleeing with a large quantity of cigarettes.

Jayesh Mistry, from neighbouring Jat’s Pharmacy, said: “I came into work and it was all cordoned off.

“They started letting people through at about 11am.

“It sounds quite nasty.”

A spokesman for Thames Valley Police said officers had already spoken to a number of witnesses in relation to the incident.

A spokesman for The Midcounties Co-operative said: “We can confirm there was a break-in at the store and we are assisting police with their inquiries into it.”

Anyone with further information is asked to contact Detective Sergeant Andy Ainsley at Loddon Valley Police Station on 08458 505 505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.